University of Derby

Our BSc (Hons) Geography course gives you the chance to specialise in either the physical, environmental or human areas of geography – or a mixture of them all – thanks to our extensive range of optional modules. We are constantly updating our curriculum to reflect the sustainable development challenges we face such as food security and water scarcity.

Real-world learning in action

With its strong emphasis on applying theory to practice, BSc (Hons) Geography gives you every opportunity to gain hands-on experience through practical sessions and field based learning in the UK and overseas.

Fieldwork is central to this course, helping you see and understand what you have covered in class, and how reality can differ from text books. We take full advantage of the many interesting locations on our doorstep, such as nature reserves, East Midlands Airport, solar farms, sites of special scientific interest, ancient woodlands, quarries, Skegness, Nottingham the Peak District National Park. We also offer residential field courses as an integral part of your studies. These could take you to locations as varied as the Lincolnshire coast, the Mediterranean and Morocco.

Exceptional facilities

We have invested in up-to-date learning facilities to help you build the practical skills which are highly valued in the profession.

They include a spatial data laboratory – which houses one of the best map collections of any UK university, a geotechnical, sedimentology and specialist computing laboratories. Our student research laboratory also gives you a dedicated space to conduct your independent investigations seven days a week.

You’ll harness industry-standard specialist equipment – such as GNSS, total stations, soil augers and field spectrometers – and all the resources you need to test and analyse specimens like vegetation, soil, water and rock samples. We subscribe to the Digimap Service so you will have full access to the British Geological Survey’s & Ordnance Survey’s digital databases.

Learn from the experts

Cutting-edge research underpins every aspect of our course. Our geography lecturers include active researchers, authors and consultants undertaking important projects worldwide. It means you’ll be kept in touch with the very latest theories and what’s new and next in the world of geography.

Current research projects span subjects such as the impacts of climate change, paleo climatic reconstruction in Greece, argan tree conservation and restoration in Morocco, use of biogas in less economically developed countries, rising sea levels in Ghana, and the implications of food allergies.

Professional credibility

Our course is accredited by both The Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES), one of only a handful of Geography degrees in the country to achieve this accolade, and the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG). These accreditations demonstrate that our course is mapped against the skills that employers are looking for, giving you the edge in the global, graduate job market.